DIY Crafts for Teens and Tweens
We're rounding up the best DIY crafts for teens and tweens right here, so you don't need to scour the internet for ideas next time your big kids are looking for something to do!
From handmade jewelry to luxurious bath products, room decor, fun accessories and more, our list of parent-recommended DIY projects for teens make great at-home activities for your older kids (and thoughtful gifts for friends and family, too).
Do you have any arts and crafts projects for teens or tweens you'd recommend to other families? Share a link to the tutorial below, and help us keep all these great ideas in one place!
Sharpie Tie Dye Shoes
Alexandra F.: Sharpie tie dye is a surprisingly mess-free art project for teens that also doubles as a cool at-home science experiment in solubility! Grab an inexpensive pair of white shoes, decorate them using colorful Sharpies, and spray them with rubbing alcohol to create that groovy, tie dye look.
From Fun Loving Families
Macrame Bracelet
Alexandra F.: Making friendship bracelets has been a rite of passage for young people across generations, and this updated (yet still simple) design makes a fun DIY project for teens and tweens. Use hemp, embroidery thread, or nylon cord for the bracelet, and spice it up with charms or beads if desired - a great use for any old and unused jewelry you might have lying around!
From Erica Chan Coffman
Duct Tape Wallet
Alexandra F.: No need to spend money on a new wallet when you can make one yourself using nothing more than duct tape! Buy tape with fun patterns or use whatever roll you have at home and decorate it using permanent markers. Easy peasy.
From Duck Brand
Upcycled Frame Photo Collage
Alexandra F.: Personalized room decor make awesome DIY projects for teens, and upcycling an old frame is a cool way to showcase pictures of friends and family. The project is simple. Take an old frame, or buy an inexpensive one from a thrift shop or craft store. Remove and dispose of any glass, and thread twine or heavy string back and forth across the frame several times in different directions. If the frame has metal tabs on the back, wrap the string around these as in the video below. Otherwise, hammer in small nails to hold the twine in place. Buy mini clothespins for displaying pictures and voila! A great addition to any tween or teen's room.
Essential Oil Diffuser Necklace
Alexandra F.: I love wearable DIY crafts for teens since they allow for creative expression while also resulting in an end product that will actually get some use! I am honestly shocked at how easy these beautiful necklaces are to make, using only a few simple and inexpensive materials to create a beautiful, totally custom piece. The essential oil aroma is a (optional) bonus!
From Hello Glow
Pom Pom Garland
Alexandra F.: This pretty pom pom garland would add a lovely splash of color to any teen or tween's room, and making the pom poms by hand could be a nice, relaxing activity for the whole family to work on together over the course of several days.
From Art Bar Blog
Glitter Cellphone Case
Alexandra F.: Teens and tweens can add a little sparkle to their phone cases with this easy DIY tutorial.
From The Spruce Crafts
Duct Tape Rose Pens
Alexandra F.: My dad taught me from a young age that duct tape is just about the most useful thing in the world, but I didn't realize until much later that it can also be used for art! Use this beginner tutorial to instantly upgrade any old pen with one of the easiest art projects for teens.
From Duck Brand
Turban Headband
Alexandra F.: This gorgeous headband is Anthropologie-inspired, but DIYing it will definitely be easier on the wallet! Painting colorful acrylic splotches on a plain white fabric will make it a fun art project for teens, too.
From Curly Made
Temporary Tattoos
Alexandra F.: Teens and tweens can create their own temporary body art using tattoo paper and designs of their own making. These could make fun and personalized party favor ideas, too!
From Etsy Journal
No-Fail Coconut Oil Bath Bombs
Alexandra F.: Three cheers for consumable DIY crafts for teens and tweens that won't further clutter their room! These luscious bath bombs can be enjoyed as soon as they are made, or make lovely gifts for grandma, mom, and friends as well.
From Hello Glow
Rainbow Layered Soap
Alexandra F.: Melt and pour soap is surprisingly easy to make and can be a fun, creative hobby for teens and tweens to adopt. This rainbow soap tutorial is a great place to start! You'll end up with five colorful bars of soap, so it can be a nice gift idea for friends and family, too.
From Growing Up Gabel
Coloring Pages Bracelets
Alexandra F.: Transform coloring pages into a unique and beautiful bangle. Teens and tweens can color an intricate pattern from an adult coloring book or enlist the help of younger siblings in coloring a simpler pattern, and take on the staining and art transfer themselves to make a truly special gift for mom!
From Persia Lou
Zipper Pouch
Alexandra F.: This zipper pouch is pretty and functional, can be adjusted to whatever size your teen wants, and makes a great gift idea for friends! The step-by-step tutorial is easy enough to follow that no sewing experience is necessary (though it does require a sewing machine), and makes a great beginner project for any teens interested in pursuing sewing as a hobby.
From Melly Sews
Mixed Metal Wire Bangles
Alexandra F.: A little patience will yield big results for teens willing to take the time to wrap inexpensive thin bangles with silver and gold wire following this easy DIY jewelry tutorial.
From Hello Glow
Primary photo: Nasim Keshmiri on Unsplash
Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.
